Barrel turner



Dec. 8, 1964 J. H. HOLSTEIN BARREL TURNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12 1963 INVENTOR JOHN H .HOLSTEIN BY ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1964 J. H. HOLSTEIN 3,160,254

BARREL TURNER Filed June 12, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN H. HOLSTEIN ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,16ll,254 BARREL TURNER Iiohn H. Holstein, Fresno, Calif., assignor to Sehenley This invention relates to a barrel turner for the handling of rolling barrels. a

An object of this invention is to provide a barrel turner which receives a rolling barrel from a first feed direction, pivotally rotates it through a predetermined angle and releases it in a second feed direction.

Another object is to provide a barrel turner of the above type which will automatically return to the first feed position when the barrel is released from the turner.

A feature advantage of this invention resides in the fact that the barrel turner is gravity operated in pivoting from the load to unload position and spring operated to return to the load position after the barrel is unloaded.

Another object is to provide a barrel turner of the above type which can be adapted to receive rolling barrels from either a first or a second feed direction and feed them oil in a third common feed direction.

A feature and advantage of this barrel turner is that the inertial forces of the rolling barrel are absorbed by the barrel turner prior to release thereby providing safer handling.

Another object is to provide an angle of feed-oil adjustrnent device for the above types of barrel turners which can be set to feed off the barrels at any direction between first and second angular limits.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and referring to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View schematic illustration of the feed systems in which this invention can be used;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a fixed feed embodiment of the barrel turner;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the fixed feed barrel turner of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the fixed feed showing the details of the inclined support track portion taken along the line 4-4 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing the details of the horizontal support track portion, taken along the lines 55 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of a two Way feed barrel turner;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the two way feed barrel turner of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a partial side elevational view of the unloading angle adjusting device for an adjustable embodiment barrel turner;

FIGURE 9 is a partial top plan view of the unloading angle adjusting device for an adjustable embodiment of the invention. 7

As schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, the system in which the barrel turner A could be used would include at least one inclined feed on track B positioned to guide a carriage is aligned with the feed oif track C. At this point 1 the barrel is released and the turntable carriage is rotated in the clockwise direction (as indicated by the dashed line arrowhead) and reset for receiving another barrel. A

two-way loading embodiment of the barrel turner A would Patented Dec. 8, 1964 require a second inclined feed track B and illustrated by the dashed lines, thereby permitting the barrel to be fed onto barrel turner A from either the left or right hand side.

Referring specifically to FIGURES 2 through 5, there is provided a substantial cylindrical support track 15 having an incline or slanting edge 16 formed along one portion and a substantially horizontal edge 17 is formed along a diametrically opposite portion.

A generally cylindrical support carriage 30 is rotatably mounted in concentric relationship with cylindrical sup port track 15. As a means for permitting carriage 36 to rotate relative to outer guide track 15, four spaced rollers 21 through 24 are rotatably mounted on the ends of four radially extending support axles 21A through 24A respectively. Each of these support axles is welded to the outer wall of carriage 3t) and thus supported in a cantilever manner. Support rollers 21 and 22, associated with the inclined track portion 16, are positioned, one lower than the other, respectively. The other support rollers 23 and 24, associated with the horizontal track portion, are secured to the wall of the carriage 30 at the same horizontal level. With this roller Wheel arrangement, it can be seen that as carriage 30 rotates counter-clockwise (hereafter, as viewed from the top) roller wheels 21 and 22, riding on the inclined track portion 16, drop equal increments for each increment of rotation, while the roller means 23 and 24, riding on the horizontal track portion 17, remain at the same vertical level. Thus, carriage 3% is tilted downward toward the inclined track portion 16 as it rotates.

A pair of barrel receiving rails 35 and 36 are secured to the upper edge of rotatable carriage 30. Each rail is in the shape of a L-beam having a fiat land portion Welded to the upper rim of carriage housing 30. The ends of each beam project sufficiently far beyond the dimensions of carriage 3i and guide track 15, to present a substantially continuous track associated with the input feedway B.

Backstops 38 and 39 are secured to one end of each rail. The forward upward projecting edge of each backstop is sloping or slanting having a pad of some resilient rubber-like material secured to the front face. Thus, as

a barrel rolls onto the two rails 35' and 36, it is stopped by the backstops 38 and 39 thereby losing its inertial energy.

A trigger means 59 is mounted between the two barrel receiving rails 35 and 36 so that it will be pivotally tripped by a barrel when it rolls suficiently far onto the turner. The substantially horizontal portion of trigger 50 is weldably secured to' the central shank portion 56 which is in 'turn pivotally mounted to the wallsof cylindrical carriage Zlliby pivot bolts 54. Thus, shank 55 and trigger 50 are free to pivot on bolts 54. A pair of spaced knobs 52 and 53 project upward from the generally horizontal portion of trigger 5d sufiiciently far to be alternately struck by a barrel rolling onto the rails 35 and 36.

Gne end of trigger means 50 depends downward at 51 in such a manner that it will control the tilting of horizontal portion 56 The lower endof this downward projecting portion SI has a roller 55 rotatably secured to it and mounted so that; as the carriage 3i rotates, the wheel will roll along a bottom plate 60 which is weldably secured adjacent the bottom peripheral edge of the support track 15. l

A-firstdetent slot 61 is'formed in bottom plate 61) so that the downward depending trigger portion 51 and roller wheel '55 will be in vertical registry with it when the rails are at a loading angle or position. Thus, as a barrel rolls onto the two rails 35 and 36 it strikes the first knob means 52 secured tothe substantially vertical portion of trigger 50 to pivotally depress the downward depending trigger portion Eland roller wheel 55 into-detent slot'fl. As a result carriage Zillis locked against rotation while being knob 52 it strikes the second knob 53 to pivotally raise the downward depending trigger portion 51, thus freeing carriage for rotation. The vertically directed weight of the barrel is transmitted to the radially extending sup port rollers 21 through 24. Those rollers 21 and 22 associated with the inclined track portion 16 tend to develop a horizontal force vector along with the vertical force vectors, causing the carriage 30, barrel receiving rails and 36, and the barrels to rotate about a generally vertical axis in a counter-clockwise direction.

As carriage 30 rotates, it is progressively tilted or inclined at an angle to the horizontal. As a result, the center of forces of the barrel shift toward the first knob 52.

Since the roller 55 is now traveling along the substantially horizontal bottom plate 60, the knob 52 rises relative to the edge of the rails, as the rails progressively tilt with carriage 30, thereby chocking the barrel and preventing it from rolling down the incline rails 35 and 36. When carriage 30 has however rotated approximately 90, roller wheel 55 and the downward depending trigger end 51 are in vertical registry with" an unloading detent slot 62. Since, as previously mentioned, the Weight of the barrel has shifted to the chocking knob 52, the tilting action on horizontal trigger portion causes roller and down-jv ward projecting portion of the trigger 51 to drop or pivot into the second detent slot 62. This pivotal movement thus removes chocking knob 52 from the path of the barrel permitting it to roll down the rails 35 and 36 and onto an unloading track.

As'an added safeguard to insure that the inertial forces of the rotating carriage do not cause the downward projecting trigger portion 51 to bypass unload detent slot 62, rubber faced bumpers 80 and 81 are secured to theguidetracks at 15 at diametrically opposite points. Thus, one rail 35contacts bumper 80 while the other rail 36 contacts bumper 81 thus stopping further counterclockwise rotation.

Once the barrel rolls oif of the rails, a detent spring means such as a leaf spring 64 can, if desired, be positioned to push roller 55 and downward projecting trigger end Slupward out of detent slot 62 thereby enabling three generally radially extending return springs 70, 71 and 72 to rotate the carriage in a clockwise direction back to the loading position. Each return spring includes a coil spring which is secured to a cable a to 72a. Each of the cables is wrapped around a cable drum 75.which is in turn secured along the center axis of carriage 30 by welding or other means. secured to the outer support track 15 by three equally spaced eye bolts 76. Thus, it can be seen that as barrel turner carriage 30 rotates counter-clockwise, the springs The free end of each coil spring is are progressively stretched under tension. -After the weight of the barrel is removed from the carriage, how

ever, the torque forces of the spring means cause the cable spool to rotate thereby returning the attached carriageand rails ,to the original loading position.

' Once the barrel receiving rails 35 and 36 reach the loading position, the vertical edge of each rail contacts a rubber faced bumper not shown attached to the support :rack 15, and which is similar to rubber faced bumper As a result, further clockwise rotation is prevented. and :he barrel turner is again ready for loading.

rollers--21 and 22 roll down the incline or sloping track edge '16 and rollers 23 andv 24 roll along the horizontal track, the carriage 343 is tilted. Similar trigger means 50 cooperates with-two detent slots 61 and '62 spaced about 90 fromaone another to release carriage 30 for rotation and controlling chocking of the barrel. Upward projectingburnper means 84 and 85 are formed at the ends of the support track portions and limit rotation to a arc. Of course, it should be understood that other variations of bumper means could be provided such as stops positioned along the support track.

A major distinction or difference in the two-way barrel turner embodiment is that barrel backstop means can he slid to either end of the barrel receiving rails 35 and 36 depending on which direction the barrelis to be received from. Each backstop 100 is substantially triangular in shape having a lower body portion including a passageway formed in it. A cam follower bar 102 is rotatably mounted on a pair of laterally projecting ears 103 and 104 secured to the vertical portion of each individual barrel receiving rail. The peripheral dimension of the cam follower bar is small enough to fit within the lower aperture on backstop 100 while allowing sliding motion between them. A locking bolt 105 is formed at the backstop body portion 101 and is threaded down to lock backstop 100 in position on the cam follower bar 102. Thus, each backstop is positioned to extend vertically above the upper edgeof the barrel receiving rails 35 and 36. When necessary or desired, suchas when the direction of barrel feed-on is changed from the right hand side to the left hand'side, the locking bolt can be loosened and backstops 100 slid along cam follower bar 102 to the right hand end of the rails (as shown by the dotted line backstop). A cam'follower tang 106 extends at an angle to the axis of cam follower bar 102 at one end thereof. Each cam tang 106 rests on the surface of calms 110a and 1153b secured to theedge of the support track 15 by meansof a brace 111 and welding. Thus when the barrel turner is in loading position, the tang means 106 should be positioned to hold the backstops 100 to extend vertically above edges of the cams 110a and 110b, the tang pivots downward rotating the cam follower bar 102 and causing the backstops 100 to rotatably flop down out of the way.

Although advantages of having the backstops 100 flop down out of the way is not apparent when you consider a barrel rolling onto the rails from the left with the backstops on the right hand side, oneshould remember thatthe rotation of carriage 30 is limited to about 90. Thus, if the backstops are slidably movedto the left hand side of cam follower rod 102 and a barrel is rolled onto the rails from the right hand side it should be apparent that these backstops, if maintained in position, would prevent the barrel from rolling off the rails once. 90 of rotation had occurred. However,. with the backstops 110 flopped out of the way, the only thing holding the In the two-way feed embodiment of FIGURES 6 and 7, there is provided a barrel turner which operates on the tbove gravity principle but which can be adjusted toreeive barrels from either direct two directions. Asillus- :rated in FIGURES 6-and 7, similar components to the Jae-way feed are given identical reference characters to hose in FIGURES 2 through 5.; Since the operation of .hese similar components is substantially identical to they aperationof the components in the first embodiment, they avill only be explained briefly. in review. Thecentral carriage 30 rotates about the guide track 15 by means of the four radially projecting roller wheels. 21 through 24. As

barrel on the railsis the trigger knob means 52 or 53 a of the triggerSt) as previously described.

this invention are possible in which the carriage rotation a could be more or less than 90 depending on whatfeed off angle is desired. FIGURES 8 andi9 illustrateone embodiment in which the feed-oif angle can be varied within a given angular range. Although they have not been illustrated in these figuresfor purposes of clarity, this embodiment also includes a central carriage 30, support track 15 having an inclined portion 16 horizontal portion and associated support rollers plus the reset coilsprings.

Added is a control tr ack lz ti i'having a loading detent slot 121 and an unloading detent slot 123. As a barrel rolls across the trigger 50, it strikes the knobs 52 to lower the roller 55 into the loading detent slot 121. When the barrel strikes knob 53, the roller 55 is raised from loading detent slot 121. As the trigger 50 starts to rotate counter-clockwise (in the manner previously discussed), the roller 55 swings over the horizontal portion 122 of the control track 12%. The unloading detent 123 is formed 'along a segment of control track 121) at an angular distance from the loading detent slot 121. This unloading detent slot 123 has a substantial width extending from less than 90 to more than 90 of angular displacement from loading'detent slot 121. The height of slot 123 is sufiicient to receive the trigger end roller 55 for tilting trigger 50 and droppingthe trigger knob 52 below the edge of the barrel receiving rails for unchocking the barrel.

In order to permit exact choice of the angle at which the trigger will drop into the unloading detent slot, an arcuate adjusting plate 136 is bolted to the outer surface of the control track] The upper edge 131 of adjusting plate 130 runs coincident with the horizontal portion 122 of control track 120 except for a generally U-shaped roller receiving slot 132. Thus, the trigger roller 55 rides along the horizontal portions 131 and 122 of adjusting plate 130 and control track 120 until it reaches the roller receiving slot 132. At this point the weight of the barrel acting on trigger knob 152 depresses the wheel 55 into slot 132 to unchock the barrel for feed-01f at a precise angle. As wheel 55 enters slot 132, it depresses the arm 141 of a reciprocally mounted spring means 140. The bushing 142 of arm 141 slides down the vertical guide member 143 thereby compressing the vertically extending coil spring 144 between the arm 141 and a spring guide 145 to the control plate 130.

As a means for setting the exact angle of feed-011, a plurality of angularly displaced mounting hole sets 148 and 149 are formed in adjusting plate 130. Thus, by inserting the two mounting bolts 150 through select individual ones of the mounting hole sets 148 and 149, mounting plate 130 can be displaced in angular increments for setting the feed-ofi angle. The securing nuts 151 are then screwed down on bolts 150 to draw the adjusting plate 130 into intimate contact with control track 120 for continuous feed-01f operation at that angle.

Although a few embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described for purposes of explanation, it should be apparent that other changes in the angles, shapes of parts, and arrangements of components can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A barrel turner, for receiving rolling barrels from one of two directions and for delivering said barrels in a third direction, comprising in combination: a circular track including inclined and horizontal portions of track; a carriage mounted to move on said track from a first receiving position to a second delivering position, said carriage incrementally tilted upon movement along said track; carriage holding means for holding said carriage at said first position until the weight of said barrel moves said carriage between said first and second positions, and for returning said carriage to said first position after said barrel is delivered, a pair of rails mounted on' said carriage for receiving said barrels in said turner, said rails being tilted upon the tilting of said carriage to shift the weight of said barrel, and trigger means mounted on a ment onsaid carriage and cooperable to engage a first detent located at said first position and a second detent located at said second position, said lever selectively engageable in said first and second detents upon pivotable movement of said lever in response to the weight of said barrel and movement of said carriage from said first position to said second position.

3. A barrel turner comprising: support track means; carriage means including a pair of rails, mounted on said suppoit track means for rotation between first and second angular limits; barrel receiving means secured to said carriage for receiving a rolling barrel from a first feed direction; trigger means pivotally connected to be tiltably pivoted by a barrel rolling onto said barrel receiving means for chocking said barrel; first and second detent means, the first said detent means connected to release the trigger when a barrel is settled on said rails wherein said carriage rotates, the second said detent means being connected to receive the trigger when carriage rotation reaches the second angular limit wherein the trigger means unchocks the barrel and permits the barrel to roll 011 in a second feed direction.

4. The barrel turner of claim 3 in which the trigger means includes a detent projection means connected for coaction with said detent means wherein pivotal movement of said trigger inserts or removes the projection from said detents, the end of said projection having a roller means connected to bear barrelweight exerted against the chocking trigger projection as the carriage rotates.

5. The barrel turner of claim 4 in which the trigger means includes a generally horizontal portion having a first and second projection means mounted thereon, wherein a rolling barrel tilts the horizontal trigger portion to depress the first said projection means and is blocked at the second said projection means to tilt the horizontal trigger portion and remove the detent projection from the detent means whereby the carriage is free for rotation.

6. The barrel turner of claim 4 including spring means connected to return said carriage from the feed ofi position to the first said feed on position after the barrel is released.

7. A turntable for changing the direction of rolling barrels comprising: support track means; barrel receiving turntable means mounted for rotational travel on said support track means; trigger means swingably mounted for chocking a barrel received on said turntable means until a predetermined angle of rotation is reached; backstop means slidably connected to stop a rolling barrel received on said turntable from a first or second direction; cam means connected to move said backstop means out of the path of barrel travel after a predetermined angle of turntable rotation; spring means connected to return said turntable means to the initial loading position when the barrel is released.

8. The turntable of claim 7 in which the backstop means is slidably mounted on an elongate member means for travel in the direction of barrel travel; locking means connected for securing said backstop to stop a barrel received on said turntable from a first direction in one position or from a second direction in a second position, and said cam means is connected to pivot the elongate member for rotatably flopping the backstops down out of the path of barrel rotation prior to release of the barrel.

9. The turntable of claim 8 in which the backstopmeansincludes first and second generally triangular plates each slidably mounted along the base thereof to a pair of I stop means slidably mounted on a cam follower, wherein 7' said backstop is slidably adjustable to either end of said cam follower for receiving a-barrel in one of a first and second directions; cam means, connected to said guide track, said cam follower being connected to said carriage Y and operable to be moved by said cam means as the carriage and guide track rotate relative to one another, said cam follower being operable to move said barrel backstop from the path of barrel of travel after said carriage has rotated a predetermined distance from the loading position.

11. The barrel turner of claim 10 in which said cam follower is rotatably mounted adjacent the barrel receiving means and said backstop means is connected to rotate with said cam follower to flop down out of the barrel receiving path.

12. The barrel turner of claim a a 15 3 in which the second said detent means is adjustable between upper and lower v angular limits wherein the barrel feed-off direction at said second angular limit can be varied.

13. The barrel turner of claim 3 in which a spring means is connected adjacent said second detent means to removethe trigger portion therefromv when .the barrel is i 7 released.

14. The barrel turner of claim 3 including spring means connected to 'rotatably return said carriage to the first said loading position. 7

15. A barrel turner comprising: circular support track means having an inclined portion anda substantially horizontal portion; rotatable carriage means mounted to travel on said support track; apair of spaced rail means secured to said carriage for receiving a barrel; trigger .means 1 pivotally mounted on said carriage and including a projection mounted for checking a barrel received on said rails; first and second spaced detent means connected to receive thetrigger means at first and secondlimits of rotation for alternately locking and releasing the carriage for rotation whereby said 'trigger means is released from the first said detent as a barrel is received on said rail means to permit rotation of said carriage along said support rails wherein said rail means incrementally inclines with each increment of carriage rotation until said trigger means is receivedby said second detent means whereat the barrel is unchecked vand rolls down the now rotated inclined rails.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 237,373 2/81 Delavigne 10442 930,629 8/09 Stanley. l04-42 1,118,658 11/14 Laun l0442 1,291,957 l/l9 Luna 104-42 1,665,997 4/28 Austin 104-42 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Acting Primary Examiner. ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Examiner. 

1. A BARREL TURNER, FOR RECEIVING ROLLING BARRELS FROM ONE OF TWO DIRECTIONS AND FOR DELIVERING SAID BARRELS IN A THIRD DIRECTION, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A CIRCULAR TRACK INCLUDING INCLINED AND HORIZONTAL PORTIONS OF TRACK; A CARRIAGE MOUNTED TO MOVE ON SAID TRACK FROM A FIRST RECEIVING POSITION TO A SECOND DELIVERING POSITION, SAID CARRIAGE INCREMENTALLY TILTED UPON MOVEMENT ALONG SAID TRACK; CARRIAGE HOLDING MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID CARRIAGE AT SAID FIRST POSITION UNTIL THE WEIGHT OF SAID BARREL MOVES SAID CARRIAGE BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, AND FOR RETURNING SAID CARRIAGE TO SAID FIRST POSITION AFTER SAID BARREL IS DELIVERED, A PAIR OF RAILS MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR RECEIVING SAID BARRELS IN SAID TURNER, SAID RAILS BEING TILTED UPON THE TILTING OF SAID CARRIAGE TO SHIFT THE WEIGHT OF SAID BARREL, AND TRIGGER MEANS MOUNTED ON 